03 L322 TD6 gearbox issues

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Belser

Member
Posts
41
Location
Cumbria
Hi all know it’s a common subject but can’t find anything with same issue I’m having, just bought truck and there’s a receipt for recon box replacement from LR dealer 16k ago but throwing trans failsafe prog error in D, will drive for longer in sport but still comes up eventually, however in manual mode drives sweet as a nut and never throws the error, drives in reverse ok and will select low range but soon throws error, and locks in park ok if that’s relevant? I did see to check resistance on transfer box pin 1-2 and 1-4? But can’t find the values again now, am lot better wid spanner’s n electrics than computers! Any help or advice be greatly appreciated, thanks stu!
 
I'm sure there is a recent thread on this. @biketeacherdave @Saint.V8 , @Henry_b and others, any of you recall it?

Addit @Belser once you work out who the Gurus and gurus in training are , you can bow to them by putting @ followed by their username, and they will get a notification. If they are not feeding/changing babies/toddlers, working hard for the man, eating cake, they may respond ;)
 
The fact its had a new gearbox and throwing up faults so soon is worrying. Was the TQ replaced as well ?
1st thing is check the gearbox oil levels as its ok in sport/manual mode which bypasses the overheat in normal mode
 
No mention of TC on receipt just recon box, lad I got it off said soon as fault came up he had oil and filter changed then only done 50m in it and I’ve driven 100m home! Just been up to my mates garage and read codes, said gearbox slipping, codes cleared and didn’t come back so he said it’s nowt electronic but he drove it and was fairly brutal TC don’t seem to lock at 56 and he said could feel it slipping up after that speed and doing boot 70 got the cattle grid judder and “TFS” message! Only paid £1850 and it’s mint so not really arsed what need to do to sort it even if have to rebuild the box will do myself but at mo am kinda hoping it’s just TC gone and that it’s not already fkd the new box?? what’s availability of parts to rebuild TC like? I done a full bare shell body swap on my first P38 so don’t scare easily but my wife’s quite scary if I’m throwing money in a hole
 
I'm sure there is a recent thread on this. @biketeacherdave @Saint.V8 , @Henry_b and others, any of you recall it?

Addit @Belser once you work out who the Gurus and gurus in training are , you can bow to them by putting @ followed by their username, and they will get a notification. If they are not feeding/changing babies/toddlers, working hard for the man, eating cake, they may respond ;)

Thanks mate did PM @Bemble but sure he’s a very busy man and prob bored to death wid newbie questions daily.... I drove round all day yest in manual and didn’t put fault up but my mate at garage drove it fairly brutally and did go into limp even in manual with him abusing the poor girl!! Hopefully find out who els is good to ask soon and be patent until can get steered in right direction, thanks for reply mate! How do u check level on box? 03 TD6, is there a dipstick or just a fill plug??
 
If the torque converter lock up clutch is fecked, the debris will contaminate the gearbox leading to the need for a gearbox overhaul and a new oil cooler. There is a better quality valve block available by Sonnex.
 
If the torque converter lock up clutch is fecked, the debris will contaminate the gearbox leading to the need for a gearbox overhaul and a new oil cooler. There is a better quality valve block available by Sonnex.[/QUOTE

With a recon box 16k ago and and an oil change since what’s chances of box still being ok? And if I drop current oil and sump will it be evident if gonna need a box rebuild or will previous oil change mask any damage already done and have to strip it to inspect clutch packs? Seen a write up bemble done and pretty confident if I put it straight back together could do it as been rebuilding bike engines 20 odd years..... thanks stu!
 
I think bike engines are a piece of cake compared to auto boxes:)
See how much bright stuff you have in the oil & pan when you drop the sump.

Oh yea know **** loads more to them but like a challenge so I’m up for having a go if it comes to it! Gonna drop oil and sump after dinner for a look, don’t really wanna drive her anymore if there’s a chance box still gonna be ok........
 
Here’s diagnostic results if it means owt to anyone....?
 

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Bright red oil so guessing just had norm dex3 ATF? it’s fairly dark once in bucket but don’t smell overly bad and nothing on magnet swilled round bottom after sitting 20 mins! Seems a fair amount of metal n **** in sump but not as bad as some I’ve seen on YouTube?? Can tell by bolts sump not been off in a while so doubt lad actually has had new oil and filter in! Ahh well if I’d wanted an easy life wouldn’t have sold hilux to buy this old beast! If I don’t give her some love would have been broke n crushed, bit like im gonna be by time sort it.....
 

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on a fresh head there’s nothing I would call glitter in sump, just grey sludge, can’t actually see a single speck of silver metallic and nothing came out on magnet swilled in oil, coupled wid fact it’s got ATF IN is that a good sign or am I just being the eternal optimist??
 
If they put the wrong oil in it will not have helped the gearbox.[/

Helped it survive or helped it work right? Would ATF cause it to slip, fairly sure TC not locking so that’s almost certainly goosed but still kinda hoping box gonna be ok having only done 16k as long as the filter has done its job?? Or is that just wishful thinking....
 
Well I hadn’t seen the other several million pages on bemble’s tear down, or all the special tools required for reassembly! Not kidding myself about rebuilding box myself anymore....... New plan is to take box out to fit new torque converter, remove valve block and inspect for contamination and check resistances and operation of valves, get as much old oil out as poss then fire back together wid correct oil and filling procedure and Hope for the best!! Anyone know how much it costs for your own box to be rebuilt and if it’s cheaper to get my TC refurbed or buy a recon unit? Thanks stu
 
New filter and oil and decided she’s driving forward in all gears now, just laughed and accepted the challenge cos I promised her if she got me home from Wigan to Carlisle I would fix her so to quote doc brown “well I figured what the hell” truck on ramps wid scaffold planks under, hight 28cm to wheels obvs wid air at full hight and bat disconnected, if u get this far and don’t have bottle and trolly jacks blocks of wood for chocks an above average set of tools a borderline clinical insanity and suicidal tendencies go and make a brew and think about where yr gonna find the money to pay someone to do it for you! Plenty vids saying remove this and that but even on my roller trolly on hard standing it’s been a right fkn chew on but managed it all on my own in the dark n wet wid a head torch on, got my mate to lower jack wid main box onto my knees once last bolt was out bell housing! Wasn’t as heavy as thought it was gonna be would say trans box almost as heavy! Time taken? Don’t kid yrsel if yr doing it just get on and be done when it’s done ✅ time for a good tidy up and will open box for a look at clutch packs tomorrow! The saga continues...........
 

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If the torque converter lock up clutch is fecked, the debris will contaminate the gearbox leading to the need for a gearbox overhaul and a new oil cooler. There is a better quality valve block available by Sonnex.

Currently deciding about buying a 04 TD6 with transmission issues, where it won't engange revers and is slipping. Would it be enough to change the vale block and clean out the oil cooler for the gearbox, or is the problem more complex?
 
Just buy one that works n save yrsel the pain mate! I’m learning as I go, only waisted my time and £35 worth of oil so far but just made it worse in my case, didn’t split valve block but removed solenoids and was no crud on screens an ohm’d right, have ordered gaskets and gonna strip clean reassemble and fit Sonnax AFL sleeve! Think once it’s slipping yr in it for a torque converter, valve block rebuild and at least some friction plates in clutch packs! Never done owt wid auto boxes before this, I’m a mechanical engineer and worked as a fitter for years but still wish I’d just got one that I could be driving instead of crawling under, but if u don’t like free time having money or yr knuckles go for it........
 
Currently deciding about buying a 04 TD6 with transmission issues, where it won't engange revers and is slipping. Would it be enough to change the vale block and clean out the oil cooler for the gearbox, or is the problem more complex?
More complex and very expensive. L322's are money pits.
 
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